Three-way current tap socket



March 18, 1930. E. CLEMENCE 1,751,442

THREE-WAY CURRENT TAP SOCKET Filed Aug. 12 1926 I I INVENTOR j --2 iemencfi',

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Patented Mar. 18, 1930 UNITED STATES ELLIOTT CLEMENCE, OZF'NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR,

or BRIDGEBORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORA- MONOWATT ELECTRIC CORPORATION, TION OF CONNECTICUT PATENT OFFICE- BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE THREE-WAY CUR-RENT TAP SOCKET Application filed August 12, 1926. Serial No. 128,815.

The present invention relates to three way current tap sockets and is more particularly directed toward the provision of electrical connectors or taps having means to conduct current from a pair of current supply terminals to a number of pairs of outlet terminals adapted to supply current for service.

An object of the present invention is to pro vide a current tap of the above nature suitable for supplying current toan ordinary screw threaded lamp socket and to a pair of plug receptacle contacts arranged for cooperation with attachment plug caps.

Another object of the invention is to 'provide a three-way current tap which is simple in construction, of few parts, efficient and durable and which is of low cost of manufacture.

The present invention contemplates a current tap wherein theinsulating body or casing is made up of a pair of matching members or body parts each of which has interiorly formed channel portions and recesses which are complemental to one another when the parts are assembled to provide passageways and chambers to acco'mmodateelectrical conductors. These passageways and chambers are so arranged that longitudinally extending electrical conductors may be connected to the outlet socket terminals and to laterally extending contact strips for the receptacle contacts above referred to. Where the current supply terminals of the device are in the form of a screw shell and center contacts to fit a lamp socket, the laterally extending conductors above referred to are connected to these contacts in an expeditious manner;

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement of conducting parts whereby they may be preassembled as a unit and inserted into one casing half and then the other casing half placed in position thereby completing the assembly ready for the external contacts, where such external contacts are employed.

I attain-the above objects and such other objects as may later appear herein by the invention, one of the possible embodiments of which is described by way of example in the subjoined specification and is shown: by

the accompanying drawings, and while herein details of the invention are described the invention is not limited to these, as many and various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1, is an elevation of the-body of the device as formed by the matching parts and showing one of the two opposed sides of the body each of which has no openings therein.

Fig. 2, is an elevation of the body of the device as formed by the matching parts and showing one of the two other opposed sides of the body each of which has alined open- 05 ings therein.

Fig. 3, is a sectional'view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow. v

Fig.4; is a sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow. v

Fig. 5, is a detail view of the socket shell and the electricalconductors connected thereto, and 75 Fig. 6, is fragmentary side View of the socket shell and one of the conductors con nected thereto.

Similar reference'characters denote similar parts throughout the several views. I

The device includes the matching members AA of, suitable insulating material which when in matchingrelation, as may be readily understood from Figs. 14, form an. insulating body having a socket chamber 14 at its upper end and reduced at its lower end to accommodate a screw shell. This body is formed with complemental channeled and recessed portions including therein parallel channels or passageways 1010 extending longitudinally of the body from the lower end towards the opposite end thereof. These passageways are separated by a solid portion or ridge 11 of the matching, members except near the open lower ends of the passageways where they are connected by the short crosschannel or passageway 12 formed in the solid portion 11.

The passageways 1O--1() communicate at their inner or upper ends with the chambers 1313 separated by the solid portion or ridge 11. The chambers 13 communicate with the alined blade receiving openings 1616 extending laterally through the body B. The solid portion 11 at its end in the chamber 13 is provided with the-hole 17 extending transversely through solid portions of both of the matching members AA in a plane between the alined openings 1616 for receiving the bolt 18 whereby the matching mem bers are secured together.

The socket shell 19 of conductive material is disposed in the chamber 14 and rests at its bottom on the ledge 15. A portion of the bottom of the shell 19 is cut away to provide the narrow inwardly extending strip or flange 20 and provide the wider inwardly extending strip or flange 21 having the aperture 22 therethrough, and an insulating member 23 is disposed in theshell at the bottom thereof so that it rests on the strips 20 and 21 but in such manner, as by cutting away a portion of the insulating member, that the material aboutthe aperture 22 is exposed.

The electrical conductor-24 has apertured angular ends 25 and 26*connected by a stem portion and has on the stem portion intermediately of said ends the conductlve crossbar 27, providedwith bent end portions, and the electrical conductor 28 has angular ends 29 and 30, one of which, 29, is apertured, connected by a stem portion and has on the stem portion intermediately, of said ends the conductive cross-bar 31 provided with bent end portions.

The apertured angular end 25 ofthe conductor24 is disposed on the under side of the insulating member 23 and the spring contact member 32 is disposed on the upper side of this insulating member and the spring contact member and the end 25 of the con-.

ductor 24.are operatively secured together by the conductive rivet 33 passing through an aperturein the insulating member and the aperture in the end 25 of the conductor. The bent end portions of the cross-bar 27 are inserted in the openings 16 of the body B so as to receive theblades of attachment iplug caps or thelike. The stem or body 0 the conductor 24is'located in the passageway 10 and the apertured angular end '26 of the conductor is disposed in the cross-bore 12 of the body B. The apertured angular end 29 of the conductor 28 is disposed .on the under side ofthe bottom strip 21 of the socket shell 19 and is connected thereto by the screw 34 passing through the aperture in the end 29 of the conductor 28 and the aperture 22 in the strip 21. The bent end portions of the cross-bar 31 are disposed in the openings 16 in the sides of the body B so as to receive the other blade of the attachment plug cap or the like. The stem or body of the conductor .28 is located in the passageway 10 and the angular end 30 of the conductor 28 extends outwardly into a channel I) in the end face insulating body B is reduced to receive a screw shell 35 of conducting material. This body may be threaded or-may have straight sides as indicated in the drawings. The screw shell 35 has an intu-rned bottom edge portion 35 which engages with the end of the insulating body B. The shell is aper-.

tured to receive a projection or boss 38 carried on the upper face of an insulating cap 36 made of porcelain or other material. This cap is provided with a central hole 37 adapted to receive a ,metal bolt 39 which passes through the hole in the cap and through the longitudinally extendin hole 40 in the lower end of the body portion%3. This hole orpassageway 40 communicates with the cross bore or passageway 12 of the body so that the inner end of the bolt may be threaded into the an ilar end 26 of the conductor 24 as shown in of the socket shell 35 has upwardly extending projections 35 adapted to extend up into the channels 6 so as to enter the channel to prevent rotation of the shell on the body and to contact with the lower end of the conductor 30.

It will also benoted in the comparison of Figures 3 and 4, that the hole in 35 provided for the boss 38 is non-circular and that this box is likewise non-circular. This results in a locking key arrangement between the porcelain cap and the metal screw shell and prevents relative rotation of these parts. lrVhen the screw 34 is tightened in place, it will be apparent that a connection has been made from the head of the screw 39 to the conductor strip 24 and thence to the center contact of the socket in the upper end of the plug and to one pair of plug receptacle terminals 27. At the same time the socket shell 35 will have been connected with the other set of terminals.

VVhat I claim and desire .to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, in combination, an insulating body having at one end thereof a chamber open at its face and igures 3 and 4. The inturnedflange 35 bottom and having a second chamber communicating with the first chamber, said body having openings through opposite sides thereof communicating with the second chamber and longitudinally extending parallel passageways; said passageways being connected near their outer ends by a cross bore and communicating at their inner ends'with the second chamber, a conductive socket shell in the first chamber having its bottom partly cut away, an insulating member in said shell and having a contact member thereon, electrical conductors in said passageways having angular inner and outer ends, the inner end of one of said conductors being electrically connected to said contact member by means passing throughsaid insulating member and the inner end of the other conductor being electrically connected to a portion of said shell, the conductor connected to said contact member having its outer end located in said cross bore and the conductor connected to said shell having its outer end located adjacent to an end face of said body, electrical conductors connected at right angles to the first mentioned conductors intermediately of the outer and inner ends of said conductors and extending transversely of said body and having end portions locatedin said openings in opposite sides of the body, a conductive shell around the sides of said body near said end face and having an inturned edge portion contacting with the outer end of the conductor connected at its inner end to the first mentioned shell, an insulating cap resting against said inturned edge portion, and a conductive bolt passingthrough said cap and through said body and secured at its inner end in said cross bore to the outer end of the conductor connected at its inner end to said contact member.

2. In a device of the character described,

in combination, an insulating body formed by.

complemental matching members and having at one end of the body a chamber open at its face and bottom and having a second chamber communicating with thefirst chamber, said body having openings through opposite sides thereof communicating with the second chamber and longitudinally extending parallel passageways, said passageways being connected near their outer ends by a cross bore and communicating at their inner ends with the second chamber, a conductive socket shell in the first chamber having its bottom partly cut away, an insulating member in said shell and having a contact member thereon, electrical conductors in said passageways having angular inner and outer ends, the inner end of one of said conductors being electrically connected to said contact member by means passing through said insulating member and the inner end of the other conductor being electrically connected to a portion of said shell, the conductor connected to said contact member having its outer end located in said cross bore and the conductor connected to said shell having its outer end located adjacent to an end face of said body, electrical conductors connected at right angles to the first mentioned conductors intermediately of the outer and inner ends of said conductors and extending transversely of said body and having end portions located in said openings in opposite sides of the body, a conductive shell around the sides of said body near said end face and having an inturned edge portion contacting with the outer end of the conductor connected at its inner end to the first mentioned shell, an insulating cap resting against said inturned edge portion, and a conductive bolt passing through said cap and through said body and secured at its inner end in said cross bore to the outer end of the conductor connected at its inner end to said contact member.

3. In a device of the character described, in combination, an insulating body having at one end thereof a chamber open at its face and bottom, parallel passageways in said body extending longitudinally thereof and connected near their outer ends by a cross bore, a-conductive shell in said chamber, a contact member in said shell and insulated therefrom, electrical conductors in said passageways, the innerend of one of said conductors being electrically connected to said contact member and the inner end of the other of said conductors beingelectrically connected to a portion of said shell, the conductor connected at its inner end to said contact member having its outer end located in said cross bore and the conductor connected at its inner end to said shell having its outer end located adjacent to an end face of said body, a conductive member around the sides of said body adjacent to said end face and contacting with the outer end of the last mentioned conductor, an insulating member disposed against said conductive member, and conductive means passing through said insulating member and through said body and'secured in said cross bore to the outer end of the conductor connected at its inner end to said contact mem ber.

one end of the body a chamber open at its face 4. In a device of the character described, in I and bottom, parallel passageways in said" body extending longitudinally thereof and connected near their outer ends by a crossbore, a conductive shell in said chamber, a contact member in said shell and insulated therefrom, electrical conductors in said passageways, the inner end of one of said conductors being electrically connected to said contact member and the inner end of the other of said conductors being electrically connected to a portion of said shell, the conductor connected at its inner end to said contact member having its outer end located in said cross bore and the conductor connected atits inner end to said shell having its outer end located adj acent to an end face of said body, conductive cross bars on said conductors extending transversely of said body and having end portions located in said openings in opposite sides of the body, a conductive member around the sides of said body adjacent to said end face and contacting with the conductor outer end which is located adjacent to said end face, an insulating member disposed against said conductive member and conductive means passing through said dielectric member and secured in said cross bore to the outer end of the conductor connected at its inner end to said contact member.

5. In a device of the character described, an insulating body having at one of its ends a socket chamber and having at its opposite end a solid portion of the body provided with parallel passageways extending longitudinally therethrough and having a cross bore connecting the parallel passageways near the outer ends of the parallel bores and a central longitudinal bore communicating with said cross bore and extending from the cross bore to the end face of the body, the solid end portion of the body being adapted for receiving on its exterior a conductive shell, said body having a second chamber located between the socket chamber and said solid portion, said second chamber having openings in its opposite side walls, said parallel passageways communicating at their inner ends with said second chamber.

6. In a device of the character described, an insulating body having at one of its ends a socket chamber and having at its opposite-end a solid portion of the body provided with parallel passageways extending longitudinally therethrough and having a cross bore connecting the parallel bores near the outer ends of the parallel bores and a central longitudi-- nal bore communicating with said cross bore and extending from the cross bore to the end face of the body, the solid end portion of the body being adapted for receiving on its exterior a conductive shell and having a central end face and a marginal end face located in a plane inwardly of the central end face, said body having therein a second chamber between thesocket chamber and said solid portion, said second chamber having openings in its opposite side walls communicating with the second chamber, said parallel passageways communicating at their inner ends with saidisecond chamber, and a centrally bored 1 cap engagingon the mid portion of its inner face said central end face and spaced away at the margin of its inner face from said marginal end face, the bore of sald cap being in registry with said central longitudinal bore.

7. A multiple outlet current tap comprising an insulating body composed of two like halves, a conductor assembly, the conductor assembly including a screw shell socket with insulated center contact, a pair of rigid parallel conductor strips, one secured to the center contact, and the other to the shell, and a pair of resilient conductor strips secured crosswise on the rigid strips and having their ends doubled back to provide spring terminals, the lower ends of the rigid strips being laterally bent, the body halves havmg communicating chambers and passageways to accommodate the conductor assembly, a socket shell about the portion of the body which houses these lower bent ends,'the shell having .a flange contacting with one of the lower bent ends, an insulating disk, and a screw passing through the disk and the other lower bent end to secure the disk and shell in place.

8. A current tap having an insulating body composed of a pair of insulating members each having in its inner face a pair of longitudinal grooves intersected by a cross groove spaced from the end of the member, the grooves forming passageways through the body, each body member having a cut away portion at the extreme end forming a transverse channel across the end of the body, a conductor strip in one longitudinal groove and bent to have an apertured end in the cross groove, a second conductor strip in the other longitudinal groove and bent to have an end in the transverse channel, a threaded metal ring about the end of the body, the ring contacting with the last mentioned bent end and having prongs registering with the transverse channel to prevent rotation of the ring on the body, an insulating disk having a boss extending into a non-circular openin in the ring, and a screw passing through the disk and threaded into the apertured end of the conductor stri in the cross groove Signed at ew York in the county of New York and State of New-York this 26 day of July A. D. 1926.

ELLIOTT OLEMENCE. 

